I do not really want to discuss the entire point but it seemed best to put the entire point so as to make sure what I wanted to discuss was placed in the proper context.
2030 – It is in the Church, in communion with all the baptized, that the Christian fulfills his vocation. From the Church he receives the Word of God containing the teachings of “the law of Christ.” From the Church he receives the grace of the sacraments that sustains him on the “way.” From the Church he learns the example of holiness and recognizes its model and source in the all-holy Virgin Mary; he discerns it in the authentic witness of those who live it; he discovers it in the spiritual tradition and long history of the saints who have gone before him and whom the liturgy celebrates in the rhythms of the sanctoral cycle. –Catholic Catechism
I am most interested in the line “he discerns it in the authentic witness of those who live it”.
Authentic witness – my standards are probably too high to find one of these. Yes, we cannot achieve this so why try? But Christ can achieve this for us so it is best not to try. But we must try because we are responsible for our behavior.
Discern – to see something for what it is, maybe. To see in others what cannot be. To see in myself what cannot be. To see again that only Christ can achieve.
Discern: distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
How are we to discern when we cannot even be the eyes and ears of Christ? I really like the definition above because is shows that this is done “with difficulty” and, well, in all honesty we don’t want to do anything “with difficulty”. Give me easy.
To do this by sight or with other senses. Maybe hearing. Maybe listening. Of course we may have to do that “with difficulty” as well. Probing under the surface of the sights and sounds. Using data to extrapolate the information that is unspoken and unseen. Finding truth in charity and in charity, in love, achieving this holiness together.